Gnome Stories - Volume 2

Farewell to a Bloody Dream

It was nice to be adventuring with her sisters again, Irean thought. Leaving Arcane Academy had been the right thing to do, as the people she'd adventured most with were long gone. But... she still couldn't stop the last thought. One person in particular she wished she could see one more time. He'd won her respect even before she'd joined the Academy, had been her mentor, maybe not in the same class of magic but certainly by heart. There had been a time when she'd thought she might be able to be his companion, but it was not to be. So she pushed the sadness, the regret, and the hurt down one more time, knowing that she'd have to keep doing so.

Homeward Bound

Irean carefully packed her things in her backpack, and slung it onto her shoulders. She had enjoyed her time in Angels, but felt it was time to head home. She tiptoed down the silent hallway, then stopped, startled, when she heard snoring. She peaked in the doorway of a room to see Ragnear stretched out on a bed, sleeping. She tiptoed away from the snoring dwarf, and as quietly as possible opened the guild building door, just as quietly closing it behind her. Her hearthsteed waited outside and took off into the sky the moment she was settled in the saddle, homeward bound to Gnome at Heart.

Hunter Chores

Læurell poked her chubby-cheeked face out the door, greeting the morning sun—and her pets—cheerfully.

“Not long 'til breakfast!”

Frosty gave her a sharp bark in answer, Cloudy and Kuura a twitch of the tail. Thor sat his bear butt down, content to wait. Daun smacked his tail on the ground, pleading impatience as his gnome companion disappeared back inside. The short hunter reappeared a few minutes later, pushing a cart filled with meat and fruit. She dumped a pile of meat in front of each cat, the wolf and bear, and a whole pile of fruit in front of the direhorn.

****

Half an hour later, Læurell stepped out of the building again. Her pets sauntered over and sat in a semicircle around her.

"Show me your teefs!" Frosty, being right in front of her, opened his mouth first for inspection.

"All clean!" She turned to Kuura, who opened his mouth wide. With gloved hand, the gnome pulled out a piece of meat between two teeth and placed it on the cat's tongue. She turned to Cloudy next, giving him an "All clean!" after inspecting his mouth. Thor had a few pieces between his teeth, which she again removed and let him gulp down from off his tongue. Daun had a piece of fruit skin stuck between two teeth—this she removed to be disposed of by burning.

"Thank you!" she called over her shoulder as she walked back into the building and closed the door.

Birthday Surprise

Læurell peered around the corner. Oh good, her cousins were still keeping Irean busy with gifts and such. A muffled knocking sounded behind her, and she turned to go answer the door before her white-haired mage cousin started to get an inkling that somebody was at the door. She quietly opened the door and just as quietly closed it behind her.

“Hi. I’m Læurell, the gnome who talked to you a few days ago. Is it here?”

“Aye, it be here, lass. Heck of a time I had of getting here.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. There will be a very excited gnome when she sees the present we got her though.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that. I’m off.”

“Thank you very much, Quartermaster Alcorn. Are you sure you can’t or wouldn’t like to stick around to watch us surprise her?”

“Afraid I can’t, Miss Læurell. Other deliveries to make. Be sure to give the birthday gnome my best, aye?”

“Thank you! I will!”

****

“Okay, Cousin Renie, one last gift. You have to close your eyes for this one. And let me guide you. No peeking!” Læurell placed her hands on Irean’s arms from behind, gently pushing her forward towards the door. Emalina held it open, winking at the hunter as she pushed the white haired mage out of the house, guiding her over the path to the stables.

“Ok, you can open your eyes now. Look up!” The mage blinked her blue eyes, tilted her head up, and gasped.

“How did you...?!” A black horse head descended to whuffle the mage’s hair.

“We cousins pooled our gold to get you your own mount. I know we can all choose from any mount in the stables, but we know you’ve been eyeing a certain horse from the new lands...”

“‘E’s beautiful! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Tears glistened in her eyes. “Best present EVER!”

***

A spectral wolf howled at the moon; a black armoured cat stepped out of the shadows, and they nodded to each other before the cat shifted to stag form, the ghost wolf transforming to a Draenei as she leapt onto the druid's back. Thundering hooves and pattering feet sounded behind them; a white haired gnome on a black horse led the charge, followed by a brown haired gnome on a tan wolf followed by a smaller white wolf, a red haired gnome on a fox, a black haired gnome on a owl-faced creature, a white ponytailed gnome on an armoured manasaber, and a black-ponytailed gnome on a white-striped cat. The stag bounded after them as they passed, heading off on a nighttime adventure.